Stop mechanism company for card-sorting machines.



. LPOWERS. STOP MECHANISM FOR CARD SORTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 19H]- Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

a SHEETS-swan 2.

J. POWERS, STOP MECHANISM FOR CARD SORTING MACHl NES.

f APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1913.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES POWERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO POWERS ACCOUNTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- W ARE.

STOP MECHANISM FOR CARD-SOBTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed April 4, 1913. Serial No. 75mm.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that 1, JAMES Powers, 2. citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New id; and State of New York, have invented'certam new and useful Improvements in Stop Mechanisms for Card-Sorting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic apparatus which will detect card-feed irregularities in card-sorting ma chines, and stop or suspend their operat on until such irregularities are rectified. It may be described in general terms as comprising a detector and stop member operably connected with the pin box and with the transmission or driving mechanism of such a machine, and adapted to co-act with normally-fed cards to permit continuous opera- .tion and in case the card-feed is interrupted or made irregular, by any cause, to suspend the supply of power to or the operation of the drive-mechanism of such machines, until their card-feed is again made normal. The successful operation of this device will greatly facilitate the operation of such machines and increase their duty by instantly detecting card-feed irregularities and limit ing their pernicious effects to the prima-r.

stages of the process.

In the drawings, Fwure 1 18 a partial side view ota card-sortiip; machine with my stop mechanism operably connected therewith and its members in normal operating positions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged" side view of my step mechanism with its members shown in stop and normal positions, respec- Fig. 3 is a right hand end-view and Fig. 4 an opposite end view of my stop mechanism with its members normally located; Fig. 5 is a partial end View like Fig. 4: but with the members in stopposition, and Fig". 6 is a perspective diagram illustrating the rela tions of the levers;

Fig. 1 illustrates the card-feed end of a card-sorting machine, with its frame 2, mag"- azine 1, main shaft 10, and some principal members of its card-sorting mechanism. such as the pin-box 2%, the sorting pins 39, the pin-plates and 26, the gears (adiacent to said plates) which drive the feed rolls, boxes m, n, for sorted cards, and exterior members of the card-deflecting mechanism, as the deflector shafts, cranks and crank rods respectively 73, 72 and 63, the co-acting trip arm 61, the retractor bar 70, and its operating connection with its cam 126 on the main shaft 10.

The pin-box 24 is illustrated as mounted on an open frame 2%, slidable in parallel guide-s 24 and as reciprocated by a cam 10%- on the main shaft 10; said cam, for convenience, being a suitably-contoured groove formed in the body of the cam 126, which actuates the retractor 70, the pin box 24 being engaged with said cam 10% by means of a roller 24, pin-mounted on the head, 24,

of the pin-box mounting frame 24:

The stop apparatus S comprises a card" controllable detector member 8, a worl suspending apparatus S and connecting apparatus S operably connecting the aforesaid members; The detector S is illustrated in its simplest form as abent rod (Fig. 2) ivotally connected at its lower exterior end with a primary lever S of the connecting apparatus, thence extending vertically above and inwardly over the pinplates and having an inner, downwardly extending pin S in a hole 25 in the upper pin plate 25, and to extend its end across and to withdraw it clear of the card-path 164: between said plate and its mate, 26, in which a registering hole 26 is made for the traverseof the pin S". if the lower pin-plate 26 could be as conveniently approached as the upper one 2-5, the pin S might point upwardly and reciprocate in the hole 26 The essenadapted to be reciprocated tial condition is that it move through the connecting apparatus S and a long arm on which the detector S is pivoted and which, exterior thereto, has apositioninglimiting connection with the frame 24", the mode of which is not material, it being illus trated as by means of a position-limiting limb S on said lever (the upper end of a slot in the head thereof) and a frame pin, 2?, on, the frame or. Their weight and an auxiliary' spring S tend to retract the le- ,ver S and the detector 8 and to cause the pin S thereof to traverse the card-path 164 When the machine is sorting, the pin-bon- 24, frame 24 and sorting pins 39, are reciprocated by the cam 104:, and the frame pin 24* plays idly in the primary lever slot S, excepttwhen near and at the upper limit 9 of such reciprocation (coinciding in time i 2% contacts with the upper end of said lever slot, S (said slot functioning only by said end, as a positioning shoulder or limb) and positions and upholds the detector 5 so that its pin S will be flush with or slightly above the under face of the upper pin {plate 25, and the card-path 164* betweeii the plates and 26 will be unobstructed. 7

If card-feed be normal e card is at such times fed between the holes 25* and 26 in 25 the pin plates and under the detector pins S"; and when the sorting pins 39, pin box 24, frame 24 and framepin 24 move into,

and in, the upper part of their reciproce tion, said card positions and upholds the de tector pin and detector, and thereby positions my stop apparatus normally, 1) so that the power-supply to and the opera tion of the sorting machine are uninterrupted. If, on the contrary, cord feed be interrupted or abnormal, no card will be fed beneath the uplifted detector pin S and when the pin-frame 2% and its accessories descend, there being no supporting means to support the detectonpih S it can traverse'the card-path 164 and enter the hole 26 in the lower pin plate; the spring 3 will draw down the primary lever and its short arm will be oppositely moved and permit the stop apparatus S to move to stop position (Fig. 2, full lines} and the power supply to the sorting machine or its opera,-

'tion or both, will be suspended.

The drawings illustrate stop apparatus adapted .to an electrically-driven sorting;

'machine. Therefore the function-suspending apparatus is illustrated of the most e'll'lective and simplest nature, 6., a circuit breaker, S and. as comprising an open frame or box 3 adapted to mount and to be bench assembled with the other members of my stop apparatus and therewith mounted, as a unit, on the sorting machine frame 2, and when so mounted to operably'locate the detector pin S relatively to the holes 25 and 26 and the positioning shoulder S" of the primary lever S rein-- tively to the coacting frame member 24; forked poles S supported andinsulated in said frame and having binding post$ to whichcnds of the electric conduit S are attached, and; a switch knife s", provided with heads S adapted to be enteredv between the. forks of and contact wlth'the poles S, to co'mplete, and to be withdrawn therefrom to break the circuit. I The electric circuit is conventional and comprises the generator, rheostat and the motor wh ch drives the sorting machine, none of which present novel features and are therefore not long sector-arm S on which the switch knife S is insulated, and a. radial slot S in the sector arm S A switching rod, S

is slideloly m united in bearings in the fro-moi 2, in o plan adjacentto that of thesector arm S isermed with e'pin S which engeges the slot S in said arm, and is provided with an exterior knob or handle S and a circuitkbreaking spring S strained between a projection on the switching rod S and the frames; The spring S tends to lift the switching rod S, because of its engagement with the switch lever S (by means of the $101: S and-pin S), to shift the switch and break the circuit (Fig. 2, full lines). I

I might position and release the switch S by the primary lever S, but the subordinate members of my connecting apparatus S are, a convenience and enable me to accomplish the desired movements of the latter with greater certainty and precision. I therefore suitably fulcrum in the frame S, a, bell-crank leverS, normally retracted to engaging position relatively to the switch by a spring S and having a switclvengaging socket 8*? adopted to engage the head S oi the switch-lever S, a long arm terminating in a suitable handle, and a short arm which terminates exterior to the frame 5 and substantially opposite the end of the short arm of the primary lever S (the two levers being located in substantially parallel planes) and on said frame I fulcrum, centrally, av transverse lever S, the arms of which are adapted to co-act with (in this instance ride) the short arms of the primary and bell-crank levers, S and S. lVhen the apparatus is in normal position (Figs. 1 3, 4, 6, dotted lines of Fig.2) the detector S is upheld, (either by a card under its pin 3*, or by the pin 24. when the pin box 24 lend frame 24- are near the upper limit of their reciprocation) and normally positions the primary lever S with its long" arm raised and its short arm depressed and normally serving as abutment beneath and-positioning the transverse lever S with its for arm depressed and its near arm raised by the short arnrof the switch-release lever S,

, which is drawn by the spring S into normal position and, with its socket S, en-

gages thepositioning head S of the switch pin S and the pin box 24: moves down, the

spring S depresses the primary lever S; the detector pin traverses the -ard path lol and enters the hole 26 in the lower pin plate 26, the short arm of the prinrary lever rises and reverse-positions the transverse and the switch release levcrsasg" and S, and retracts the latter so that its socket if releases the positioning head S of the switch lever S whereupon the switch'spring S raises the switch rod S whose pin S. by its engagement with the slot S in the switch lever S raises the sector arm thereof and the switch knife S whose heads S are thus withdrawn from the poles-S (Figs. 2 and 25 5, .full lines), thereby breaking the circuit and suspending the supply of power to and the operation of the sorting machine.

My stop apparatuscan be restored to its normal position and work resumed. by pressing down the switch rod S (by its knob S), which will strain the switch spring S swing the switch lever S enter the switch knife heads S between the forks of the poles S and complete the circuit, while at 35 the same time the positioning head S of the switch lever .27 will he engaged by the slot S of the bell-crank. W

I provide manually operable means, 9;, to suspend and restore the operation ot the sorting machine at the will of the operator.

die S from the position shown in dotted This comprises. merely the addition to the parts necessary for automatic operation of an exterior extension or handle of the bellcrank S. Itthe operator swings said hanlines to that shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the switch lever will be released and work suspended as above described :and it may be resumed by depressing the switclrrod S tector pins is located somewhat anterior to the transverse plane of a line of sorting pins 39. This is done in order that when a sorting pin of said line registers with a perforation in the first linetliereof in a card, the

edge of said card may besafely entered (and no more) under the detector pin S Fur thcr, the detector pin should be in a predeternnncd location relatively to the sorting pins: and because the latter should be in a predetermined relation to card controlling means, specifically. to a card stopping arm, such as is described in my previous applications. Quch locating of detector S is so 5 complished by mounting my completely-as It will be observed (Fig. 1) that the 'de-- oration initiated by sembled stop apparatus by means of its frame 55, on the sorting machine frame 2, the frame 22 being proportioned to that end.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a sorting machine comprising a frame having two plates between which cards are fed to be there sorted, an aiitomatic stop means comprising a pin, there being registering openings in said plates in which said pin may reciprocate, said pin being held in raised position when a card obstructs its passage from one opening to the other, an electric switch for controlling the driving means of said sorting machine. and means connecting said pin with said switch so that said switch will be. disconnected when said pin is permitted to pass through said two plates due to the failure of a card to obstruct the passage of such pin.

2. In combination with a sorting machine comprising a frame having a support to which cards are fed to be there sorted, an automatic stop means comprising a pin, there being an opening in said support in alinement with said pin, said pin being held in raised position above said plate when the card obstructs its passage into said opening, drive control means for controllin-gthe driving means of said sorting machine, and means connecting said pin with said control means so that the movement of said pin may operate said control means.

3. The combination with a sorting machine having a card analyzing support, of means for successively feeding cards to said analyzing support, c: rd controllable. means, work control means, means for successively reciprocating said card controllable means toward said analyzing support, the card controllable means being maintained in inoperative position when a, card obstructs its passage, means connecting said card controllable means with said. work control means, said card controllable means actuating said coimecting means to initiate the. operations of the work control means when a card fails to obstruct its passage, and said work control means adapted to control the work of the sorting machine to have its opsaid card controllable means.

4-. The combination with a sorting machine, means for successively teedmg cards through said sorting machine, card arrestable means. work controlmeans, means for successively reciprocating the card arrestablc moans across the path of movement of the cards while being passed through said machine, the card -arrestaole means being maintained in inoperativeposition when a card obstructs its passage, means connecting said card arrestable means with said Work control means, said card arrestable means tioning-an l-releasev means operably actuating said connecting means to initiate the operations of the work control means when a card fails to obstruct its passage, and said work control means adapted to control the work of the sorting machine to have its operations initiated by said card arrestable means.

5. The combination with a sorting machine having a card analyzing support, of means for successively feeding cards to said analyzing support, a card positioned member, a work control member, positioning and releasing means operably connecting said card positioned member and work control member, means for successively reciprocatin said card positioned member toward said analyzing support, said card positioned member being maintained in inoperative position when a card obstructs its passage,

said card positioned member actuating said positioning and releasing means to initiate the operations of the work control means when a card fails to obstruct the passage of said card positioned member, said positioning and releasing means adapted to be positioned by said card positioned member to position and release said work control member, and said work control member being adapted to be so positioned and released to control the work of the sorting machine.

6. The combination with a card sorting machine, means for successively passing cards therethrough, a card (positioned means, a circuit breaker, and means for successively reciprocating a card positioned means across the path of movement of the cards being passed therethrough, s'aid card positioned means being maintained in inoperative position when a card obstructs its passage and to open the'circuit breaker when a card fails to obstructthe passage of said card positioned means.

7. Automatic stop means for card-sorting machines, comprising a movable card-positioned member, a circuit breaker and posiconnecting said :l1(l1)()Sltl()Il0(l member and (Cll'Ulllt-lilizlhu'. said card-positioned member being maintained in inoperative position when 'a card obstructs its passage and actuating said positioiiing-and-release means to open the circuit-breaker when a card fails to obstruct the passage of such card positioned member.

8. Automatic stop means for card-sorting machines, comprising a movable card-posi tioncd member. a positioning connection between said member and a movable sorting member of a card sorting machine, a posi- ,'oning-arid-release member and a circuitbrcaher, said card positioned member adapted tomovc across a card-path in a sorting machine. and maintained in in operative position when a card obstructs its passage across said card path, and actuating said positioning-and-release member to open said circuit-breaker when a card fails to obstruct the passage of such card positioned member.

9. Automatic stop means for card-sorting machines, comprising a frame, a movable card-positioned member, a positioning-and v card obstructs its passage, and actuating said positi0ning-andrclease member to open the circuit-breaker when a card fails to obstruct the passage of such card positioned member.

10. Automatic stop means for (ifll'ClFSOljU ing machines. comprising a frame, "poles adapted to be connected in an electric circuit insulated in said frame and, operably mounted thereom'a switch, a switch-opening spring, a manually-operable switchclosing rod, a switch positioning and release member, a spring connected therewith, a movable card-positioned member and a connecting member adapted to connect said card-positioned and saidswitch-positioning and release. members, said frame adapted to be mounted on a card sorting machine and when so mounted to operably locate said card positioned member and a limb of said connecting member respectively in a card path and in the path of a movable card sorting member of said sorting machine. I

11. Automatic stop means for card-sorting machines. comprising a frame, a switch, poles adapted to be connected in an electric circuit insulated in said frame and, operably mounted thereon; a spring-retained bell crank lever adapted to position and release said switch, a card positioned member, a primary lever on which said card positioned member is fulcrumed, and a secondary lever operablv connecting said bell-crank and primary levers. said frame adapted to be mounted on a card sorting machine and when so mounted to operably locatesaid card positioned member and a limb of said primary lever respectively in a card path and in the path of a movable card sorting member of said sorting machine.

12. Automatic stop means for card-sort-- mg machines, comprising card-controllable means, work-control meansand automatically-and-manually operable positioningand-release means operably connecting said card-controllable and \vorlccontrol means, said card-controllable means being maintained in inoperative position when a card obstructs its passage, and actuating said positioning-and-rlease means to initiate the dperations of the worlecontrol means when a card fails to obstruct the passage of such card controllable means, said worlocon'trol means adapted to control the Work of the sorting machine and to be positioned and released by said positioning-and-release means, and the latter adjusted to be operated manually and automatically by said crank-coi'itrolled means. q

13.. The combination with a sorting machine, means for successively passing cards therethrough, card controllable means work suspending n'ieans, means for successively reciprocating said card controllable means across the path of movement of the cards being passed through the machine, said card controllable means being maintained in inoperative position when a card obstructs its passage, means connecting said card controllable means with said work suspending means, said card controllable means actuating said connecting means to initiate the operations of the work suspending means when a card fails to obstruct the passage of the card controllahlc means, and said work suspending means adapted to control the work of the sol-tin machine and to have its operations initiated by said card controllable means.

14. In combination with an article feeding devicehaving a support to which the articles are successively fed, a controllable means successively passing across the path of the articles being led, a worlos:lspcnding means,'a11d means connecting said controliablc means with said work-suspending means, said controllable means being maintained in inoperative position when an article obstructs its passage, and actuating said connecting means to initiate the operations of the work-suspending means when an article fails to obstruct the passage of such controllable means.

" JAMES POWERS.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN LB. AVERY, H. D. Penney. 

